The 79th Cannes Film Festival opens with Pierre Salvadori’s 1928-set romantic tragicomedy, “The Electric Kiss” (La Venus Electrique), screened out of competition. Across outlets, the film is described as a lushly designed French period comedy that mixes romance, grief, deception and a renewed appreciation for life and art. The story centers on an art-world figure who is drawn back into emotional connection through the actions of a con-artist. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the plot involves a fake carnival psychic who helps reconnect a grieving painter with his deceased wife. Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter both frame the film as a mix of lightness and darker undercurrents, focusing on themes of loss and deception rather than straightforward comedy. Deadline also includes discussion with Salvadori about opening Cannes, his approach to comedy, and the tone he aims for in the film. The reviews note different reactions to how effectively the film translates its premise on opening night, but they agree on the central elements: a 1920s Paris setting, a romantic-comedy structure, and a con-based narrative device.